1. Chocolate Banana Cream Pie
Food Network.com (Recipe)
MADE: 2.3.19
RATING: 5/5
FOOD NETWORK RATING: 4.6
How can you go wrong with the buttery graham cracker crust, luscious home-made chocolate pudding, slices of banana and whipped cream. It’s dessert perfection.
2. Perfect Peach Pie
BarefootContessa.com (Recipe)
MADE: 7.29.20
MY RATING: 5/5
My first peach pie and maybe the only version I ever need! Sure peeling peaches isn’t fun but this pie highlights the fresh juicy peaches of late summer and topped ice cream it could not be more worth the effort. If you do one thing this August, make this pie!
3. Fresh Blueberry Pie
Make It Ahead, page 205 (Recipe)
MADE: 3.14.18
MY RATING: 5/5
FOODNETWORK RATING: 4.4
Blueberry has always been my favorite type of pie and Ina’s didn’t disappoint! The trick is lemon and crème de cassis. Tried lattice for the first time and was surprised at how easy it was.
4. Frozen Key Lime Pie
Barefoot Contessa Family Style, page 138 (Recipe)
MADE: 7.20.15
MY RATING: 5/5
FOODNETWORK RATING: 4.5
Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies has some of my favorite desserts in the city so I couldn’t wait to try Ina’s take! I’m a sucker for a graham cracker crust and the tart/sweet/creamy frozen key lime mixture was so refreshing on a hot summer day!
5. Maple Pecan Pie
Foolproof, page 247 (Recipe)
MADE: 12.23.18
MY RATING: 4/5
FOODNETWORK RATING: 3
Was the the most amazing pecan pie I’ve ever had? No. But was it delicious and a dessert I’d make again? Absolutely! I would have preferred a little more filling – the pie felt like mostly pecans but the honey, bourbon and maple syrup were a nice touch!
6. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Food Network (Recipe)
MADE: 5.4.21
MY RATING: 4/5
FOODNETWORK RATING: 2.5
This should have ranked higher because the taste is absolutely phenomenal, but something it off in the recipe as I (along with many commenters on FoodNetwork.com) had soupy results. Mine also took about 30 extra minutes in the oven until it was bubbly.
7. Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Rum Whipped Cream
Foolproof, page 241 (Recipe)
MADE: 10.31.15
MY RATING: 4/5
This is one I should revisit – I made it the first month of this project and the results were runnier than I expected with a VERY crispy crust. And while Ina loves adding orange zest to things, it wasn’t my favorite here. I enjoyed the rum infused whipped cream
8. Deep-Dish Apple Pie with Perfect Pie Crust
Family Style, page 158 (Recipe)
MADE: 10.25.15
MY RATING: 4/5
FOODNETWORK RATING: 3.8
I wanted to like this one so much more than I did! While you get impressive height with the top crust, when you cut in it was mostly air. And I feel like the orange juice and zest overpowered all of the other flavors covering up what should be the star: apples.
